N Qld firms take priority in defence spend

Australian and Singaporean defence ministers have delivered some good news to north Queensland businesses - they'll get first shot at $2 billion to upgrade defence training areas.

Defence Minister Marise Payne and her Singapore counterpart Ng Eng Hen visited Townsville on Friday to meet local business leaders and discuss plans for the big expansion of Singapore military training there and at Shoalwater Bay.

Under an agreement, signed on Thursday in Canberra, priority will be given to businesses around the two training areas for spending on infrastructure and ongoing support of Singaporean training activities.